Missing Mass in January

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Nelka

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I’ve seen my rota for January and I have been put down to work one weekend from the Saturday afternoon until Sunday lunchtime meaning I will miss both Masses. This is also happening to me next weekend. If this keeps happening then I will be lost. I can’t keep asking my priest for dispensation.

😧
 
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Nelka, you are troubled but need not be.

If you cannot attend mass due to your work schedule there is no obligation. We are to attend mass unless we have a serious reason that prohibits us— your work schedule is a serious reason.

You do not need to ask for a dispensation each time.

However I am puzzled by your comment that you “can’t” keep asking your priest for a dispensation. If one were necessary why wouldn’t you be able to ask for one?
 
1ke said:
If you cannot attend mass due to your work schedule there is no obligation. We are to attend mass unless we have a serious reason that prohibits us— your work schedule is a serious reason.
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I didn’t know that.

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1ke said:
However I am puzzled by your comment that you “can’t” keep asking your priest for a dispensation. If one were necessary why wouldn’t you be able to ask for one?
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I thought a dispensation was an occasional thing, what if he says I asked for one last month?
 
Nelka said:
I thought a dispensation was an occasional thing, what if he says I asked for one last month?
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It’s your work, as in your livelihood. A priest is going to be understanding about that. Maybe the priest will even have a suggestion about other Masses you could attend in the area, etc. as I am sure you are not the only person who has run into an issue with a weekend work schedule.

The mere fact that you care enough about your Mass attendance to even discuss it with the priest should make any priest happy.
 
You might want to check the diocesan website, our lists mass times by day and hour, so if you need a Sunday 7 am mass, it will tell you who offers it.
 
I work for a major retailor and sometimes they forget and schedule me to work at times so I cannot get to Sunday Mass. When I went to confession to our parish priest his exact word were honey you are automatically dispensed because of work schedule. If it will make you feel better you can try to make daily mass sometime during the week. When I told him that I was afraid to tell him about it, he said that I never should be afraid to talk to him about anything and that he was called Father for a reason.
 
Then you tell him you need another one.

But in your case, you don’t need one.

If you feel the need, talk it over with your pastor and tell him you are going to be scheduled on these overnight weekend rotations about once a month.
 
Are there any parishes near you that have a Sunday evening Mass?

There are 2 Sunday evening Masses at the Newman Center on the university campus in
my city. One is as late as 9 pm.
 
You can’t be the only person with this issue. Many many people work shifts and do life saving work. I agree that the priest (and God of course) would be pleased you care and that you ask. I have confessed missing mass before when I was injured and my priest was surprised I thought it was a sin so I do understand the confusion as he explained it to me.
Of course look for other masses you can make the obligation but if you can’t that’s a reasonable reason to miss mass. Try say the prayers when you get home and make a spiritual communion. Also you may, if it is such that you have a day off during the week, consider attending a week day mass.
 
Nelka, explain to your priest that this is an ongoing situation. He can grant you an indefinite dispensation.
 
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